Oakland brings back Shell

By wire services
Published February 11, 2006

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Art Shell was hired for his second stint as Raiders coach Friday night.

Shell, who hasn't been a coach since the Raiders fired him after the 1994 season, emerged as the leading candidate after Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and Louisville coach Bobby Petrino spurned the team. He will be formally introduced today.

Shell, the first black coach in modern NFL history, becomes the seventh current one. Of the 10 openings this offseason, the only other black coach hired was Herman Edwards, who was traded from the Jets to the Chiefs.

Shell had been working as the senior vice president of football operations and development for the NFL.

Oakland fired Norv Turner on Jan.3, giving Shell little time to put together a staff before the scouting combine begins Feb.22.

Shell made eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls as a standout offensive lineman for the Raiders from 1968-92 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Upon his retirement, he joined Oakland's coaching staff as an assistant and replaced Mike Shanahan four games into the 1989 season. He lasted through 1994, the team's final season in Los Angeles.

Shell went 54-38 in the regular season and led the Raiders to three playoff berths, including the AFC title game after the 1990 season. He had a winning record in four of his five complete seasons, The Raiders have had only three since his firing and are 13-35 in the past three seasons.

Texans give quarterback three-year extension

HOUSTON - Quarterback David Carr will be with the Texans for another three seasons, perhaps an indication they will select Heisman Trophy running back Reggie Bush with the No.1 pick in the draft.

Houston had the option of extending Carr's contract for two seasons but made it three. If the move was an indication it would pass on Texas quarterback Vince Young, a Houston native, owner Bob McNair wasn't saying.

Carr, the No.1 overall pick in 2002, has started 59 of the 64 games in Houston's four seasons. Last season, he threw for 2,488 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Also, former Packers coach Mike Sherman will decide "over the next three or four days" about joining Houston's staff.

Green Bay fired Sherman on Jan.2 after it went 4-12. He interviewed for the coaching vacancies with the Bills and Jets and declined offers from both to become offensive coordinator. New coach Gary Kubiak worked with Sherman at Texas A&M in 1992-93.

BEARS: Ron English, who accepted the job as defensive backs coach earlier this week, pulled out and will return to Michigan, where he was the secondary coach.CHIEFS: Coach Herman Edwards said he believes Will Shields and Priest Holmes will play next season. Shields, an 11-time Pro Bowl guard who was slowed for most of last season by various injuries, considered retiring after the 2004 season. Holmes, a three-time Pro Bowl running back, went out at midseason after surgery for head and neck trauma.DOLPHINS: Former LSU assistants Kirby Smart and Bo Davis will rejoin coach Nick Saban. Smart, the defensive backs coach at LSU, will coach safeties. He spent last season as Georgia's running backs coach. Davis, who spent the past four years as assistant strength and conditioning coordinator at LSU, will be assistant strength coach and assist with the defensive line.